
^TITTTTTOAT 



BYXAM'S 



ONS OF THE RliVULUTlON 



I i \ ( I ) [ . 



■:i> DEOEMMKK IS, 1S8Q1 



CONSTITUTION 



BY-LAWS. 



SONS OF THE REVOLUTION 



DISTKICT OF COLUMBIA, 



Incokporated December 18, 1889. 



WASHINGTON : 

OIBSON BROS., PKINTEE6 AND BOOKBINDERS. 

1889. 



L 



Gift 

Mrs. Julian JMnM 

1012 



OFFICERS, 1890. 



President, 
JOHN LEE CARROLL. 

Vice-President, 
Theodorus Bailey Myeks Mason. 

Board of Managers, 
Nicholas Longwoeth Anderson. 
Archibald Hopkins. 
Daniel Morgan Taylor. 

Secretary and Treasurer, 
Arthur Henry Button. 



I C3 



CONSTITUTION. 

PKEAMBLE : 
" SONS OF THE EEVOLUTION." 

Whekeas, it has become evident from the decline 
of proper celebration of such National holidays as the 
Fourth of July. Washington's Birthday, and the like, 
that popular interest in the events and men of the 
War of the Revolution is less than in the earlier days 
of the Republic ; 

And, whekeas, this lack of interest is to be attrib- 
uted, not so much to lapse of time and to the great 
flood of immigration from foreign countries, as to the 
neglect on the part of descendants of Revolutionary • 
heroes to perform their duty of keeping before the 
public mind the memory of the services of their an- 
cestors, and of the times in which they lived, and of 
the principles for which they contended ; 

Therefore, the Institution of the "Sons of the 
Revolution " has been formed and established in the 
United States of America to perpetuate the memory 
of the men who, in military, naval, or civil service, 
by their acts or counsel, achieved American Indepen- 
dence ; to promote and assist in the proper celebra- 
tion of the anniversaries of Washington's Birthday, 
the Battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill, the Fourth 
of July, the Capitulations of Saratoga and Yorktown, 



4 

the formal Evacuation of New York by the British 
Army, on the 3d of December, 1783, as a relinquish- 
ment of territorial sovereignty, and other prominent 
events relating to or connected with the War of the 
Revolution ; to collect and secure for preservation 
the manuscript rolls, records, and other documents 
and memorials relating to that War ; to inspire among 
the members and their descendants the patriotic 
spirit of their forefathers ; to inculcate in the com- 
mianity in general sentiments of Nationality and re- 
spect for the principles for which the patriots of the 
Revolution contended ; to assist in the commemora- 
tive celebration of other great historical events of 
National importance, and to promote social inter- 
course and the feeling of fellowship among its mem- 
bers. 

Article I. 

The Institution shall be known by the name, style, 
and title of " Sons of the Revolution." 

Article II. 

The Institution shall be National and perpetual, 
and shall include all members wherever admitted. 

Article III. 

The purposes of the Institution are to cherish and 
encourage among its members and their descendants, 
and among the people of the United States, the pa- 
triotic spirit of the men, who, in military, naval, or 
civil service, by their acts or counsel, achieved Amer- 



ican Independence ; to perpetuate the memory of 
their deeds, and to maintain the immutable princi- 
ples for which they contended ; to promote and as- 
sist in the proper commemorative celebration of 
Washington's Birthday, and of prominent events re- 
lating to or connected with the War of the Revolu- 
tion, and other great historical events of National 
importance; to collect and secure for preservation 
the manuscript rolls, records, and other documents 
and memorials relating to the War of the Revolution, 
and to promote social intercourse and the feeling of 
fellowship among its members. 

Aeticle IV. 

Any male person, above the age of twenty-one 
years, shall be eligible to membership in the " Sons 
OF THE Revolution " who is descended fi"om an an- 
cestor who, either as a military or naval officer, sol- 
dier, sailor, or official in the service of any one of the 
thirteen original Colonies or States, or of the National 
Government representing or composed of those Col- 
onies or States, assisted in establishing American In- 
dependence during the War of the Revolution, be- 
tween the 19th day of April, 1775, when hostilities 
commenced, and the 19th day of April, 1783, when 
thej- were ordered to cease ; and no person other than 
such shall be eligible to membership in the ' ' Sons of 
THE Revolution " : 

Provided, That when the claim of eligibility is 
based on the service of an ancestor in the '' militia," 
it must be satisfactorily shown that such ancestor 



was actually called into the service of the State or 
United States, and performed garrison or field duty ; 
and 

Provided further , That when such claim is based 
on the service of an ancestor as a "sailor," it must 
in like manner be shown that siach service was regu- 
larly performed in the Continental Navy, or the Navy 
of one of the original thirteen States, or on a vessel, 
other than a merchant ship, which sailed under let- 
ters of marque and reprisal, and that such ancestor 
of the applicant was duly enrolled in the ship's com- 
pany, either as an officer, seaman, or otherwise than 
as a passenger ; and 

Provided further. That when siich claim is basetl 
on the service of an ancestor as an official in the civil 
service of the United States, or of one of the thirteen 
original States, such service must have been suffici- 
ently important in character to have rendered the 
official specially liable to arrest and imprisonment if 
captured by the enemj', and not the ordinary duties 
of a civil office, the performance of which did not 
particularly and effectively aid the American Cause. 

In the construction of this article, the civil officials 
and military forces of the State of Vermont, during 
the War of the Kevolution, shall be comprehended 
in the same manner as if they had belonged to one 
of the thirteen original States. 

No service of an ancestor shall be deemed as quali- 
fying service for membership in the '' Sons of the 
Revolution " where such ancestor, after assisting in 
the cause of American Independence, shall have sub- 



sequently either adhered to the enemy, or failed to 
maintain an honorable record throiighout the War of 
the Revolution, and no person shall be admitted un- 
less he be judged worthy of becoming a member. 

Article V. 

The Society having been instituted for National 
piirposes, and incorporated for convenience imder the 
laws of the State of New York as the " Sons of the 
Revolution," may, nevertheless, for the sake of fre- 
quent communications, be supplemented, in the sev- 
eral States and Territories, by Societies co-ordinate 
and co-equal thereto, through which membership 
may be acquired and the purposes of the Institution 
in general more fully and more effectively promoted ; 
and each of such State Societies, when duly consti- 
tuted, shall thereafter have exclusive jurisdiction in 
the particular State or Territory in which it may be 
organized. 

Article VI. 

Whenever fourteen or more persons eligible for 
membership, all residing in any one State or Terri- 
tory of the United States, shall apply to the Society 
to be authorized to organize a State Society in such 
State or Territory, or having associated and combined 
themselves into a provisional organization in such 
State or Territory, shall apply for recognition and ac- 
ceptance as such State Society, the Society may, at a 
stated or special meeting, by a vote of three-fourths 
of the members present, grant such application : 



Pronidfd, however, That only oue State Society shall 
be authorized or accepted and thereupon duly con- 
stituted in any State or Territory. 

Article VII. 

Every State Society, when duly constituted, will 
regulate everything respecting itself consistent with 
t he purposes and maxims of the ' •■ Sons of the Eev- 

OLUTION." 

1. Its title shall be, " Sons of the Revolution in 

the State of " (or "Territory of ," or 

" District of Columbia"). 

2. Its jurisdiction shall extend only to the State or 
Territory wherein it is constituted. 

Article VIII. 

The officers of every Organization of the " Sons 
OF the Revolution " shall be a President, a Vice- 
President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, to be chosen 
fi-om among the members enrolled therein, and a 
Board of Managers, consisting of these officers, ex- 
officio, and as many other members as may be desig- 
nated by the By-Laws of each respectively : Subject, 
Jiowever, to such limitations and requirements as to 
the number and composition of th.e Board as may be 
prescribed by any Statute applicable to the particular 
Organization. 

For common record 'iiurjioses and for the conveni- 
ence of the several jurisdictions, the Society shall 
also have an officer known as Registrar, who shall re- 



ceive, file, and keep of record, in the City of New 
York, the names and residences of all officers and 
members, proofs upon which memberships have been 
granted, declarations of members on admission of 
adherence to the Constitution, circular letters, and 
the By-Laws and Standing Regulations adopted in 
any meeting, and also copies of all ijublications 
issued by any Organization, and the proceedings of 
all Councils, together with a list of all diplomas 
countersigned by him, which records shall always be 
open to the inspection of any member. 

Aeticle IX. 

Every Organization of the " Sons or the Revolu- 
tion," respectively, may adopt By-Laws and Stand- 
ing Rules and Regulations not inconsistent with this 
Constitution, or any Statute applicable thereto, and 
provide in the same for the imposition of dues, fees, 
and penalties, and for the expulsion of any member 
enrolled therein who, by a conduct inconsistent with 
a gentleman and a man of honor, or by an opposition 
to the interests of the community in general or the 
Organization in particular wherein he is enrolled, or 
for other cause, may render himself unworthy to con- 
tinue a member. 

The By-Laws, however, may provide for the restora- 
tion to membership of any person thus expelled, un- 
less the cause of expulsion involved turpitude or 
moral unworthiness. 

No person thus expelled shall subseqiiently be 
admitted to membership in any other Organiza- 



10 

tion of tlie "Sons of the Kevolution," without 
the consent first hiid and obtained of the Organiza- 
tion from which he was expelled ; and no such con- 
sent shall be valid where the person thus expelled 
cannot, by reason of the cause of expulsion, be re- 
stored to membership in the Organization from which 
he was expelled. 

Article X. 

Every Organization of the "Sons of the Eevolu- 
TiON," respectively, shall judge of the qualifications 
of the members who may be proposed : Pri/vided, 
Iioweve/', That where a State Society is duly consti- 
tuted in a State wherein the applicant permanently 
resides, he can acquire membership only in that ju- 
risdiction, unless, however, he be a descendant of a 
member or former member enrolled in another juris- 
diction, in which case he maj- apply to and be admit- 
ted in either one or the other. 

Article XI. 

Every Organization of the "Sons of the Revo- 
lution " shall write annually, or oftener if necessary, 
a circular letter to the other meetings, noting what- 
ever they may think worthy of observation respect- 
ing the good of the Institution in general or the pur- 
poses of its formation, and giving information of the 
officers chosen for the current year, and a list of the 
members enrolled therein, with their respective resi- 
dences. 



11 

Aeticle XII. 

The Secretary of every Organization of the ' ' Sons 
OF THE Kevolution " shall transmit for record to the 
Registrar, immediately after the admission of any 
members, duplicates of the applications for member- 
ship, and of other proofs, if any, upon which such 
members were admitted ; and annually, on the third 
day of December, or within twenty days thereafter, 
shall transmit in like manner a list of officers and 
members and their respective residences, and the cir- 
cular letters, By-Laws, Standing Rules and Regula- 
tions, and publications of such separate meeting, and 
also any necrological list for the year then closing, 
with carefiiUy prepared biographies of the deceased 
members. ^^ 

Article XIII. 

An annual meeting of every Organization of the 
"Sons of the Revolution" shall be held on the 
third day of December in every year, at which an 
election of officers shall take place for the ensuing 
year, except when such date shall fall on Sunday, in 
which case the meeting shall be held on the following 
day. 

At every meeting the purposes of the Institution 
will be fully considered and the best measures to pro- 
mote them adopted. No question, however, involv- 
ing the party politics of the Day within the United 
States shall ever be discussed or considered in any 
meeting of the "Sons of the Revolution." 



12 

The several Secretaries shall, when practicable, 
give iJiiblished notice of the time and place of their 
respective annnal meetings, and shall also notify the 
other Secretaries thereof : Provided, however, That 
the annual meeting of the Society shall always be 
held in the City of New York. 

Article XIV. 

1. Any member, wherever admitted, shall, when 
attending any meeting or celebration whatsoever of 
the " Sons of the Revolution," have all the privi- 
leges and rights of membership therein other than 
voting, which privilege shall be confined to the juris- 
diction wherein he shall be duly enrolled : Provided, 
however. That any member, wherever admitted, who 
may attend any meeting of the Society for the elec- 
tion of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treas- 
urer, or Registrar, shall be privileged to vote for 
such officers : And provided, further, that any mem- 
ber, wherever admitted, who may attend any meeting 
of the Society for action upon any application under 
Article VI of this Constitution, shall be privileged 
to vote thereon. 

2. Any member, wherever admitted, who may have 
permanently removed to a State or Territory wherein 
an Organization of the "Sons of the Revolution" 
may be duly constituted, shall, if he so desires, be 
transferred thereto immediately upon filing, with the 
Secretary of that Organization, his formal letter of 
request accompanied by a certificate from the Secre- 
tary of the jurisdiction wherein he is enrolled that he 



13 

is in good standing therein, and has satisfied his 
pecuniary obligations thereto : Provided., Jioioever, 
That any member enrolled in any State Societj' may, 
on removal, permanently, to a State or Territory 
wherein there is no duly constituted State Society, 
be transferred in like manner to the Society. 

3. A member shall not be exempt from his obliga- 
tions to the jurisdiction wherein he is enrollec' solely 
on account of absence therefrom, but shall continue 
in all privileges of membership therein. 

4. Resignation or voluntary withdrawal from mem- 
bership shall only become effective as a release fi"om 
the obligations thereof, when consent has been given 
in the manner provided in the By-Laws of the juris- 
diction wherein the member is enrolled. 

Article XV. 

Whenever a written complaint shall be formialated 
by any Organization of the ' ' Sons of the Revolu- 
tion," or by the Board of Managers thereof, to the 
effect that any provision of this Constitution has been 
infringed upon or transgressed by any other Organi- 
zation of the same, or that any member (or members) 
enrolled in such other Organization has rendered 
himself unworthy to continue a member by a con- 
duct inconsistent with a gentleman and a man of 
honor, or by an opposition to the interests in general 
of the community or of the " Sons or the Revolu- 
tion," the Organization wherein the complaint shall 
have been preferred may call a Council, to meet in 



14 

the City of New York, ou an appointed day and 
within a reasonable time, which Council shall consist 
of the President (or Vice-President, in case of his 
death, resignation, or inability to attend), or a repre- 
sentative designated specially, as it may prefer, by 
every Organization of the "Sons or the Revolu- 
tion " respectively. 

Twenty days' notice of the time and place of the 
convening of such Council shall be given to the party 
complained of, together with a copy of the complaint. 

Such Council shall be limited in its jurisdiction to 
the investigation, on due hearing, of svach complaint 
and of any replication thereto, and it shall have full 
power to redress such complaint and to compel con- 
formity to the Constitution in whatever way may be 
deemed necessary, and to rescind any act in violation 
thereof, and to expel any member (or members) com- 
plained of whom it may adjudge unworthy to con- 
tin\ie a member for the cause stated. 

Such Council may also, in enforcement of its de- 
cision in such proceeding, summarily expel any mem- 
ber (or members) who shall, after notice thei-eof, fail 
or neglect to comply with its order thereunder, and 
no person expelled under any provision of this Article 
shall be restored to membership unless with the ex- 
press consent of every Organization of the " Sons of 

THE EeVOLTJTION." 

The Council shall choose its Chairman j)ro tempore 
from among its own members, and may designate any 
member whomsoever to act as Secretary jrro tempore 
and to record its proceedings and communicate its 



15 

resolves and orders, and to perform snch other ap- 
propriate duties as may be required. 

At such Council a majority of the members entitled 
to be present shall constitute a quorum for the trans- 
action of business. 

It may adjourn from time to time, as the circum- 
stances of the particular case may require, and at the 
final conchision of the business for which it was 
convened it shall become functus officio, but may be 
reassembled, in like manner, to investigate any other 
complaint under this Article preferred by any Organ- 
ization of the " Sons of the Revolution " or by the 
Board of Managers thereof. 

Article XVI. 

The seal of the " Sons of the Revolution " shall 
be one and seven-eighths of an inch in diameter, and 
shall consist of the figure of a minute-man in Conti- 
nental uniform, standing on a ladder leading to a 
belfry, and holding in his left hand a musket and an 
olive branch, and grasping in his right hand a bell- 
rope. Above the cracked " Liberty bell ; " issuing 
therefrom a ribbon, bearing the motto of the *' Sons 
OF THE Revolution": ^^Exsgi Monumentum ^re 
Perennius.'^ Across the top of the ladder, on a rib- 
bon, the figures " 1776," and at the left of the min- 
ute-man, and also on a ribbon, the figures "1883," 
the year of their institution ; the whole encircled by 
a band three-eighths of an inch wide ; thereon at the 
top thirteen stars of five points each, and at the bot- 



IG 

torn the legend, ''Sons of the Revolution:" the 
following being a fac-simile thereof : 




The Secretary of every Organization of the *' Sons 
OF THE Eevolution." respectively, shall be the cus- 
todian of the seal thereof, which seal shall be identi- 
cal in every particiilar with this descripti<jn. 

Article XYII. 

The insignia of the "Sons of the Revolution" 
shall consist of the badge i)endant from the ribbon 
by a ring of gold. 



17 

The badge shall be elliptical in form, with escal- 
oped edges, one and one-quarter inches in length, and 
one and one-eighth inches in width ; the whole sur- 
mounted by a gold eagle, with wings displayed, in- 
verted. On the obverse side a medallion of gold in 
the centre, elliptical in form, bearing on its face the 
figure of a soldier in Continental uniform, with mus- 
ket slung. Beneath, the figures " 1775 ;" the medal- 
lion surrounded by thirteen raised gold stars of five 
points each upon a border of dark blue enamel. 

On the reverse side, in the centre, a medallion, 
corresponding in form to that on the obverse, and 
also in gold, bearing on its face Houdon's portrait of 
AVashington in bas-relief, encircled by the legend, 
"Sons of the Revolution." Beneath the figures 
" 1883," and upon the reverse of the eagle the num- 
ber of the particular badge engraved, the medallion 
surrounded by a plain gold border conforming in di- 
mensions to the obverse, upon which members may 
have their names engraved in script. 

The ribbon shall be dark blue, ribbed and watered, 
edged with buff, one and one-quarter inches wide, 
and one and one-half inches in displayed length. 

The insignia shall be worn by the members con- 
spicuoiisly and only on the left breast on all occasions 
when they shall assemble as such for any stated pur- 
pose or celebration. Provided, however, That officers 
and ex-officers of the Society shall wear the insignia 
suspended by a ribbon about the neck. The badge 
shall never be worn as an article of jewelry. 



18 

For the purpose of securing uniformity in design 
and proper fabrication, the Treasurer of the Society 
shall have under his sole control the insignia and the 
die from which the badge is made ; shall alone issue 
the insignia to the members wherever admitted, at 
the net cost price, and shall keep a record of all issued 
by him. and such record shall always be open to the 
inspection of any member. 

Such insignia shall be returned to the Treasurer of 
the Society by any member who may formally with- 
draw or resign or be expelled, but otherwise it shall 
be deemed an heirloom. 

No member shall receive more than one badge, un- 
less to replace one, the loss or destruction of which 
shall first be satisfactorily established. 

On occasions other than the meetings for any stated 
purpose or celebration, members may wear a rosette 
of the prescribed ribbon and pattern in the ujjper 
button-hole of the left lapel of the coat. 

The respective Treasurers shall alone issue the 
rosettes to members. 

Article XVIII. 

Every member, wherever admitted, shall be entitled 
to receive a certificate of membership, which shall 
be authenticated by the President and Secretary of 
the jurisdiction wherein the member may be enrolled, 
and countersigned by the Registrar of the Society, 
and the seal of the " Sons of the Revolution " af- 
fixed. It shall be in form following : 



19 

SONS OF THE REVOLUTION. 

Be it known that has been duly admitted 

a member of this Institution in right of the services 

of in the cause of American Independence 

during the War of the Revolution. 

In testimony whereof, the names of the proper of- 
ficers and the seal of the Society are hereunto affixed. 

Dated this — day of , in the year of our Lord 

thousand hundi'ed and , and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the 



[l. s.] President of the Society 

• [In the State of ]. 

Secretary of the Society 

[In the State of ]. 

, Registrar. 

Akticle XIX. 
It shall be a standing rule that the members shall, 
when practicable, hold a commemorative celebration 
and dine together, at least once every year, in their 
respective territorial localities. 

Aeticle XX. 
Every member, whenever admitted, shall declare 
upon honor that he will conform to this Constitu- 
tion, and observe the By-Laws, Rules, and Regula- 
tions made in pursuance thereof, and endeavor to 
promote the purposes of this Institution. 



20 

Such formal declaration shall be subscribed in du- 
plicate, and one original thereof transmitted to the 
Registrar for record. 

Article XXI. 

Every Organization of the " Sons of the Revo- 
lution " shall be subject to and bound by all the pro- 
visions of this Constitution, and no alteration, addi- 
tion, or amendment shall be made to the same, unless 
agreed to by all such Organizations. 



SOCIETY OF THE 

"SONS OF THE REVOLUTION," 

In the District of Columbia. 

[Incorporated on tlie 18th day of December, 1889.] 

BY-LAWS. 

Section I. 

Members shall be elected as follows : Candidates' 
shall send their respective applications and docu- 
ments, or other proofs of qualification for member- 
ship through the Secretary, to the Board of Mana- 
gers, which is authorized to judge of the merits of 
an application in such manner as it may deem best. 
Upon a favorable decision by said Board, and upon 
payment of the initiation fee and subscription to the 
declaration required by the Constitution, applicants 
shall thereupon become members of the Society. 

No person shall be admitted to membership iiuless 
he shall have first made written application therefor, 
approved by two members over their signatures. 

Section II. 

The initiation fee shall be five dollars ; the annual 
dues, three dollars ; or the payment at one time of 
seventy-five dollars shall constitute a life member, 
and the member so paying shall thenceforth be exempt 
from the payment of annual di;es. 



22 

Any member who may contribute one hundred and 
fifty dollars to the permanent use of the Society, shall 
be exempt from the payment of annual dues, and 
this exemption shall extend in perpetuity to his lineal 
successors in membership, one at a time, who may be 
selected for such exemption by the Society. 

Section III. 
In order to form funds which may be respectable, 
and assist the unfortunate, all life-membership fees 
or donations for the purpose which shall hereafter be 
paid the Society, shall remain forever to the use of 
the Society ; the interest only of which, if necessary, 
to be appropriated to the relief of the unfortunate. 

Section IV. 
The Society shall hold an annual meeting on the 
third day of December, in every year, at which a 
general election of officers by ballot shall take place, 
except when such date shall fall on Sunday, in which 
case the meeting shall be held on the following day. 
In such election, a majority of the ballots given for 
any office shall constitute a choice ; but if, on the 
first ballot, no person shall receive such majority, 
then a further balloting shall take place in which a 
jjlurality of votes given for auy office shall determine 
the choice therefor. 

Section V. 
At all meetings of the Society one-quarter of the 
total membership, represented in person or by proxy, 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business. 



23 

Section VI. 

The President, or in his absence, the Vice-Presi- 
dent, or in his absence, a Chairman pro tempore, shall 
preside at all meetings of the Society and of the 
Board of Managers, and shall exercise the usual func- 
tions of a presiding officer, under general parliamen- 
tary rules, subject to an appeal to the Society, in 
proper cases under those rules. The President shall 
be, ex officio, a member of all committees. He shall 
represent the Society in every Council for which the 
Society shall not have chosen a representative either 
specially for such Council or for a definite period dur- 
ing which such Council may be called. 

He shall also jjerform such other representative 
duties on behalf of the Society, either personally or 
by correspondence, as it or the Board of Managers 
may find desirable or necessary, or as customarily 
appertain to his office, and he shall enforce a strict 
observance of the Constitution, By-Laws, and Stand- 
ing Regulations. 

Incase of his decease, resignation, neglect to serve, 
or inability from any cause to act as President, the 
duties of the office shall devolve on the Vice-Presi- 
dent, until the vacancy caiised by such decease, resig- 
nation, or neglect to serve, shall be filled, or until 
the inability shall cease. 

Section VII. 

The Secretary shall conduct the general corre- 
spondence of the Society and keep a record thereof. 
He shall notify all qualified and accepted candidates 



24 

of their admission, and perform such other duties as 
the Society, or Board of Managers, or his office, may 
require of him. He shall have charge of the seal, 
certificates of incorporation, by-laws, historical and 
other documents and records of the Society other than 
those required to be deposited with the Registrar, 
and shall affix the seal to all ^iroperly authenticated' 
certificates of membership, and transmit the same 
without delay to the member for whom it is issued 
or to his proper representative. He, together with 
the presiding officer, shall certify all acts of the So- 
ciety, and, in proper cases, authenticate them under 
seal. He shall have charge of all printing and pub- 
lications directed by the Society or by the Board of 
Managers. He shall give due notice of the time and 
place of all meetings of the Society, and of the Board 
of Managers, and shall attend the same. He shall 
keef) fair and accurate records of all the proceedings 
and orders of the Society, and of the Board of Man- 
agers, and shall give notice to the several officers of 
all votes, orders, resolves, and proceedings of the So- 
ciety or of the Board of Managers, aflfecting them or 
appertaining to their respective duties ; and, at the 
annual meeting, and oftener, if required, shall re- 
port to the Society the names of those candidates who 
have been admitted to membership, and also the 
names of those members whose resignations or vol- 
untary withdrawals have been consented to and ac- 
cepted, and also the names of those members who 
have been expelled, or dropped for non-payment of 
dues, or who have been received or di'opped from the 



25 

roll by transfer since the last report. In his absence 
from any meeting, a Secretary pro tempore may be 
designated therefor. 

Section VIII. 

The Treasurer shall collect and keep the funds and 
securities of the Society ; and as often as those funds 
shall amount to one hundi'ed dollars they shall be 
deposited in some bank in the City of Washington 
to the credit of the Society of the "Sons of the 
Eevolution," and shall be drawn thence on the 
check of the Treasurer for the purposes of the Society 
only. Out of these funds he shall pay such sums 
only as may be ordered by the Society, or by the 
Board of Managers, and shall perform such other 
duties as the Society, or Board of Managers, or his 
office, may require of him. He shall keep a true ac- 
count of his receipts and payments, and, at each an- 
nual meeting, render the same to the Society, when a 
committee shall be appointed to audit his accounts. 

For the faithful performance of his duty, he shall 
give such security as the Society, or Board of Man- 
agers in lieu of its action thereon, may from time to 
time require. 

Section IX. 

At every annual meeting the President may desig- 
nate a Chaplain and a Historian for the ensuing year, 
from among the members, and, in case of the hap- 
pening of a vacancy in either of these offices, the 
President may, in like manner, fill such vacancy for 
the unexpired term. 



26 

The Chajilain shall be a regularly ordained minister 
of a Christian denomination, and it shall be his dixty 
to open and close all meetings with customary chap- 
laincy services, and perform such other diities as 
ordinarily pertain to such office. 

The Historian shall keep a detailed record, to be 
deposited with the Secretary, of all the historical and 
commemorative celebrations of the Society ; and he 
shall edit and prepare for publication such historical 
addresses, essays, papers, and other documents of an 
historical character, other than a llegister of Mem- 
bers, as the Secretary may be required to publish ; 
and at every annual meeting, if there shall be a ne- 
crological list for the year then closing, he shall sub- 
mit the same, with carefully prepared biographies of 
the deceased members. 

Section X. 

The Board of Managers shall be six, namely : The 
President, Vice-President, Secretary-and-Treasurer, 
ex officio, and three other members, who shall be 
elected at the anniial meeting in every year, in the 
same manner as the officers of the Society. 

They shall judge of the qualifications of every 
candidate who shall make proper application for ad- 
mission to the Society, and shall have power to ad- 
mit him to membership therein, if found eligible 
under the Constitution. 

They shall, through the Secretary, call special 
meetings of the Society at any time, upon the wn-it- 



27 

ten request of five members of the Society, and at 
such other times as they themselves may see fit ; and 
they may arrange for commemorative celebrations by 
the Society. 

They shall recommend plans to the Society for pro- 
moting its purposes, and, when practicable, may di- 
gest and prepare business for its meetings. 

They shall generally superintend the interests and 
shall have the control and management of the affairs 
and funds of the Society, as authorized by law. They 
shall also perform such duties as may be prescribed 
by the Constitution or By-Laws, or required by any 
Standing Kegulation or resolve of the Society. They 
shall be competent to consent to and to accept the 
resignation or voluntary withdrawal from member- 
ship of any enrolled member of the Society. 

They shall supervise all publications issued in its 
name, and they may require the attendance of any 
Member of the Society enrolled therein, or any Com- 
mittee thereof, at any meeting, for consviltation and 
advice. 

The Board of Managers shall meet as often as they 
may desire, or at the call of the President, or upon 
the written request of any three members of the 
same. 

Three of the Board of Managers shall be a quorum 
for the transaction of business. 

At every annual meeting they shall submit to the 
Society a general report of their proceedings during 
the year then closing. 



28 

Section XI. 
The Registrar shall perform the duties enjoined 
iipon such officer in the Constitution. 

Section XII. 
Upon the demand of live members at any meeting 
of the Society the ayes and nays shall be called on 
any pending motion or resolve which may be voted 
ujDon and duly entered on the minutes. 

Section XIII. 

No person who may be enrolled as a member in this 
Society shall be permitted to continue in membership 
where the proofs of claim of qualification by descent 
are found to be defective and insufficient to substan- 
tiate such claim, or not properly authenticated. The 
Society, or the Board of Managers, may, at any time 
after thirty days' notice to such person to properly 
substantiate or authenticate his claim, require the 
Secretary to erase his name from the list of members, 
and such person shall thereupon cease to be a mem- 
ber : PravidM, He shall have failed or neglected to 
comply satisfactorily with suc^h notice. 

Where the Board of Managers shall direct the eras- 
ure of a person's name for a cause comprehended 
under this section, such person shall have a right of ap- 
peal to the uext annual meeting ; but he shall not be 
restored to membership unless by a majority vote on 
that occasion, or at a subsequent meeting to which 
the consideration of the appeal may have been specif- 
ically postponed. 



29 
Section XIV. 

The Board of Managers shall have power to expel 
any enrolled member of this Society who, by a con- 
duct inconsistent with a gentleman and a man of 
honor, or by an opposition to the interests of the 
community in general, or of this Society in particu- 
lar, may render himself unworthy to continue a mem- 
ber, or who shall persistently transgress, or, without 
good excuse, wilfully neglect the performance of any 
obligation enjoined by the Constitution, or by these 
By-Laws, or by any Standing Regulation of this So- 
ciety : Provided. That he shall have received at least 
ten days' notice of the complaint preferred against 
him, and of the time and place for hearing the same, 
and have been thereby afforded an opportunity to be 
heard in person or by counsel. 

"Whenever the cause of expulsion shall not have 
involved turpitude nor moral unworthiness, any 
member thus expelled may, upon the recommenda- 
tion of the Board of Managers, but not otherwise, 
be restored to membership by the Society at any 
meeting. 

The Board of Managers shall also have power to 
drop from the Roll the name of any enrolled member 
of the Society who shall be at least two years in ar- 
rears in the payment of dues, and who, on notice to 
pay the same, shall fail and neglect to do so within 
ten days thereafter, and, upon being thus dropped, 
his membership shall cease and determine, but he 
may be restored to membership at any time by the 
Board of Managers, on his api^lication therefor, and 



30 

upon his payment of all such an^ears and of the an- 
nual dues from the date when he was dropped to the 
date of his restoration. The Board of Managers 
may also suspend any officer from the performance 
of his duties for cause ; which pi'oceeding must be 
reported to the Society and acted upon by it within 
thirty days, either by rescision of the sixspension or 
removal of the suspended officer from office, or other- 
wise the suspension shall cease. 

Section XV. 

Whenever an officer of this Society shall die, resign, 
or neglect to serve, or be unable to properly perform 
the duties of his office by reason of absence, sickness, 
or other cause, the Board of Managers shall have 
power to appoint a member to such office pro tempore, 
who shall act in such capacity until the Society shall 
elect a successor, or until the inability due to " ab- 
sence, sickness, or other cause " shall cease .' Pro- 
vided, hoiaever, That the office of President shall not 
thus be filled by the Board of Managers, when there 
shall be a Vice-President to enter upon its duties. 

In like manner, the Board of Managers may sup- 
ply vacancies among its members, under the same 
conditions and limitations, and in case any member 
thereof, other than an officer, shall be absent from 
three consecutive meetings of the same, his place 
therein may be declared vacant by the Board of Man- 
agers and filled by an appointment which shall con- 
tinue in full effect viutil the Society shall elect a s\ic- 
cessor. 



31 

Subject to these provisions, all officers of the So- 
ciety, and the members of the Board of Managers, 
shall, from the time of their election or appointment, 
continue in their respective offices until the next an- 
nual meeting, and until their respective successors 
shall be duly chosen. 

Section XVI. 

No resignation or voluntary withdrawal from mem- 
bership of any member enrolled in this Society shall 
become effective as a release from the obligations 
thereof, unless consented to and accepted by the 
Board of Managers. 

Section XVIT. 

It shall be a Standing Rule that, upon the decease 
of any member residing within the territorial juris- 
diction of the Society, notice thereof and of the time 
and place of the funeral, shall be given by the Sec- 
retary by publication, and it shall thereupon become 
the duty of the members, when practicable, to at- 
tend the obsequies. 

Any member, upon being informed of the decease 
of a member, resident as stated, shall make it his 
business to see that the Secretary is promptly noti- 
fied of the fact. 

Section XVIII. 

No alteration of the By-Laws of this Society shall 
be made unless such alteration shall have been openly 



32 

proposed iit a previous meeting and entered in the 
minutes, with the name of the member proposing the 
same, and shall be adopted by a majority of the mem- 
bers present at an annual or specially called meeting 
of the Society. 

Section XIX. 

No alteration nor amendment to the Constitution 
shall be agreed to except by a vote of three-fourths 
of a quorum present at any annual or specially called 
meeting, after thirty days' notice shall have been 
given of .such proposed alteration or amendment. 

Section XX. 

It shall be the duty of every member to inform the 
Secretary, by written communication, of his place of 
residence and of any change thereof, and of his post- 
office address. 

Service of any notice under the Constitiition or 
under these By-Laws upon any member of the So- 
ciety, addressed to him at his last recorded place of 
residence or post-office address, and forwarded by 
mail, shall be deemed siifficient service of such notice. 



LIST OF MEMBERS, JANUARY 1, 1890. 



Philip Rounsevill Algee, Eiisigu, U. S. Navy. 

Nicholas Longwoeth Andeeson. 

John Lee Caeeoll. 

John Schuylee Ceosby. 

Aethue Heney Dutton. 

Claeence Edwaed Button, Cuptaiu, U. S. Army. 

Samuel Rhoads Feanklin, Rear- Admiral, U. S. 
Navy. 

Abchibald Hopkins. 

Gaillaed Hunt. 

Theodoeus Bailey Myees Mason, Lieuteiiaut, U. 
S. Navy. 

Richaed Rush, Lieutenant, U. S. Navy. 

Daniel Moegan Tayloe, Captain, U. S. Army. 

Haeey Clay Taylor, Commander, U. S. Navy. 

John Geimes Y\'alkee, Rear-Admiral, U. S. Navy. 
33 



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